HEALTH chiefs today revealed that an orthopaedic surgeon was still under investigation at Burnley General Hospital after more than 12 months.

A specialist team from the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) were called in to look into the conduct of the specialist in April last year at the request of the Health Care Trust.

The Rapid Response Review team from the RCS in London is investigating alleged irregularities.

The nature of the irregularities is unclear but the RCS said the review teams were designed to investigate a whole range of issues surrounding the conduct of hospital staff.

The surgeon has not been named, although a spokesman for the health trust confirmed that an investigation had started at the hospital and was continuing.

Two specialist doctors, in this case orthopaedic surgeons, one from the trust and one from the British Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, are leading the inquiry. The team from the RCS have been looking at case notes and interviewing staff.

Any recommendations will be made to the health trust at the end of the investigation and, if serious malpractice is uncovered, the surgeon in question can be referred to the General Medical Council.

The rapid response teams were set up in 1998 to look into concerns at hospitals with a view to preventing problems becoming too serious. So far about 70 investigations have been carried out across the country.

Angela Brown, spokesman for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, confirmed that an investigation was ongoing at the hospital.